Mannvit's experience with the primary aluminum industry began in the late 60s, shortly after the company was founded. As a domestic engineering consultant, Mannvit participated in the Alcan (formerly ISAL) Aluminum Smelter project by adapting the design and plans, produced by outside agencies and advisors, to suit Icelandic conditions.
In the years since, consulting on heavy industry and major power projects has moved increasingly into the hands of Icelandic companies and Mannvit has been in the vanguard of this development. When work began on Iceland's next aluminum smelter, the Nordic Aluminum Plant at Grundartangi, most of the consulting and supervisory aspects of the project were in the hands of Icelandic engineers, technicians and consultants, with Mannvit playing a leading role as a member of the HRV Engineering group, an alliance formed with two other of Iceland's largest engineering consultants. Experience has shown that drawing on local expertise in the construction and expansion of Iceland's heavy industry facilities has been highly successful, both in terms of controlling costs and meeting schedules.
As the lead member of
HRV Engineering, Mannvit has acted as a consultant in the preparatory phases for the building, maintenance, expansion and operation of the following facilities, providing a wide range of advice and services including environmental impact assessment, appraisal and monitoring, planning management, materials research and testing, building and mechanical design and the drafting of tender and other project-related documents.
Fjardaal - Alcoa
Since 1998, Mannvit has been closely involved in a wide variety of technical preparations relating to the construction of a new aluminum smelter in East Iceland for Alcoa. Through its relationship with HRV Engineering, the company served as principal contractor on the project in partnership with the multinational engineering firm Bechtel.
Nordural - Nordic Aluminum
Mannvit was responsible for planning and preparations for the new 60,000 TPY plant including the environmental impact assessment, final design and construction supervision in cooperation with other consultants. The company was extensively involved in both phases of the construction of the 90,000 TPY Nordic Aluminum plant expansion, including an EIA and the preparation of an operation permit for a proposed expansion of the facility to 180,000 TPY. And, through its alliance with HRV Engineering, Mannvit was actively involved in the design and construction of this expansion, which is now complete. In 2001, Mannvit produced an EIA for a further expansion of the plant, up to 300,000 TPY, including an operation permit.
Alcan
Mannvit was a major participant in the planning and preliminary work arising from the expansion of the Straumsvík Smelter from 100,000 tons per year (TPY) to 160,000 TPY, including the design of a new harbor facility and environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a possible expansion of the plant to 212,000 TPY. In 2001, Mannvit produced an EIA for a proposed expansion of the plant to 460,000 TPY and offered assistance in preparing an operation permit.